MELBOURNE, Aug 13: Olympic sprint star Usain Bolt told Australian media on Sunday that he’s considering an offer from former Test leg-spinner Shane Warne to play Twenty20 cricket in Australia next season.

The Melbourne Stars franchise, for which Warne is the marquee player, confirmed it has opened negotiations with Bolt through his management company about playing in the Big Bash League.

Bolt, who defended his 100 and 200-meter titles in London to take his Olympics gold medal tally to six, played junior cricket in Jamaica and has expressed a love for the sport.

In an interview with Channel Nine, Australia’s Olympic broadcaster, Bolt said: “If I get the chance I will definitely try because I know it’s going to be a lot of fun. I don’t know how good I am. I will probably have to get a lot of practice in.”

The Big Bash League involves eight teams comprising international cricket stars and local players, and will run from Dec 7 to Jan 9.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle is the league’s leading scorer and star attraction.

Bolt, who says he is an all-rounder, is a close friend of Gayle and famously bowled him and hit a six off Gayle’s bowling in a charity match in 2009.

Melbourne Stars president Eddie McGuire, a broadcaster with the Australian television network Foxtel, first raised the prospect of Bolt playing for the Stars in an interview with the sprinter at the London Games. Warne then followed up that approach with a more formal offer.

“He (Warne) contacted me and asked me about if I am serious and if I really want to do it then he can put in a few words that should get it done,” Bolt told Channel Nine.

“So we will see if I get the time off. I will try.

“Twenty20, I love it. Just the fact that it is so exciting, it’s about going hard the whole time, not just about playing shots. It’s about being aggressive and I like that style of batsman.”

Stars chief executive Clint Cooper said the franchise will continue its talks with Bolt when he has time to consider other things.

“We’re going to wait until the Olympics is over and re-engage with him and his management company,” Cooper said.  “We’ve got a couple of spots left on our (team) list.”—AP